Compliance Education

The University of Oklahoma Athletics Compliance office provides rules education in the department's weekly Boomerblast sent to thousands of OU fans and all department employees. A complete archive of questions is available below. To view the latest Compliance Question of the Week, click here.

May 21, 2014 QuestionStudent-athlete X has committed to the University of Oklahoma, and is participating in an all-star competition that takes place in my hometown. Can I allow him and/or his family to stay at my house while they are in town for the all-star game?

Answer: No, you may not provide lodging for a prospective student-athlete or his/her family at a free or reduced-cost rate under any circumstances.

Would it be permissible to pay for a prospective student-athlete’s to attend an institution’s sports camp or clinic?Answer: It would not be permissible to pay a prospective student athlete’s expenses to attend a members institution’s sports camp or clinic.

April 22, 2014 QuestionIs it permissible to talk to a prospective student-athlete while they are at an All-Star Game?

Answer: No, contact with a prospective student athlete may not be made prior to any athletics competition in which the prospective student athlete is a participant during the day or days of competition, even if the prospective student athlete is on an official or unofficial visit.

February 26, 2014 QuestionA booster notices a recruited prospective student athlete resides in their home town, would it be permissible to invite the prospective student athlete to dinner and talk to them about attending OU?

Answer: It would not be permissible for a booster to provide a perspective student-athlete with a meal and provide information about their institution. Furthermore, a person of athletics related interests may not assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

February 18, 2014 QuestionIs it permissible to arrange for or assist with employment for a prospective student-athlete's relatives or friends for signing with OU?

Answer: NO. The NCAA specifically prohibits the assurance of financial aid, benefits and monetary arrangements that include, but are not limited to, a promise of future employment for the prospective student-athlete's relatives.

February 11, 2014 QuestionMay a recruit/prospect stay at a booster/fan's house during their visit to campus?

Answer: NO. Providing a prospect/recruit with housing during their unofficial or official visit is impermissible and could potentially result in negative consequences for both OU and the prospect/ recruit.

January 30, 2014 QuestionIs it permissible for a booster to tweet a prospect/recruit if they have verbally committed to OU?

Answer: NO. Tweeting, Facebooking or contacting recruits/prospects through other forms of social media is not permissible. Furthermore, the NCAA does not view a verbal commitment as a binding commitment. Boosters soliciting the attendance of a recruit/prospect to attend OU is a violation of NCAA rules.

December 18, 2013 QuestionA local church has asked one of the Oklahoma athletics teams to speak with their children about the importance of staying in school and getting good grades, can a student-athlete speak with the children?

Answer: There are conditions associated with student-athletes speaking with local organizations, but it is allowed. For example, student-athletes must receive prior permission prior appearance and may not miss class or participate in appearances during dead periods/ final examinations. If you are interested in having student-athletes appear at your local organization, please contact the compliance office.

November 26, 2013 QuestionMay a booster speak with a prospect while the prospect is taking their unofficial or official visit?

Answer: Contacts with prospects during their official or unofficial visit should only be done by authorized institutional staff members (e.g. Academic Advisors, Compliance Officers, etc.). Boosters or fans should have zero contact with prospects during their official or unofficial visit.

September 18, 2013 QuestionMay a coach comment publicly on the athletic skill and abilities of a prospective student-athlete prior to the prospective student-athlete signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend the institution?

Answer: No, an institution may only confirm its recruitment of the prospective student-athlete. An institution may not comment about the prospective student-athlete's ability or possible contribution that the prospective student-athlete might make to the institution's team.

September 4, 2013 QuestionMay an institution employ a prospective student-athlete at an institutional camp whom has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI)?

Answer: Yes, an institution may employ a prospective student-athlete in a camp or clinic, provided he or she has signed a NLI or the institution has received his or her financial deposit in response to its offer of admission.

August 6, 2013 Question Can fans host a student-athlete in their home for a regular meal or holiday meal?

Answer: A student-athlete is only permitted to receive meals from the institution or family members. It is impermissible for a fan to provide a meal for student-athlete in the home or at any location. This meal would be considered an extra benefit and the student-athlete would be ineligible for competition.

June 18, 2013 Question May a coach or booster contact a student at another four-year institution that has publically indicated he/she is transferring?

Answer: An athletics staff member may not make contact, directly or indirectly, with a student at another four year institution without first obtaining written permission from the institution at which student is currently enrolled. If permission is granted the transferring student becomes a recruitable athlete and all NCAA recruiting guidelines apply accordingly. If permission to contact is denied, the student has the right to an appeal hearing within 15 business days. A booster, shall never contact a potential recruit regarding attending The University of Oklahoma to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Answer: Financial aid can only be decreased after the financial aid agreement period has expired unless the student athlete becomes:Ineligible to compete in intercollegiate athleticsFraudulent misrepresentation on formsSerious misconduct resulting in University disciplinary action and...Voluntary withdrawal from team.

April 23, 2013 Question Can a student-athlete use career counseling services that are exclusively for student-athletes?

Answer: Yes, a student-athlete may use career counseling and internship/job placement services available exclusively to student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is not placed in a position in which the student-athlete uses their athletics ability.

April 16, 2013 Question May an institution provide career services to student-athletes?

Answer: Yes, member institution shall provide general academic counseling and tutoring services to all student-athletes. These services can be provided by the department of athletics or the institutions nonathletics student services. An institution may finance other academic and support services that the institution determines to be appropriate and necessary (e.g. career counseling).

April 9, 2013 Question Can a student-athlete receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis?

Answer: Yes, but...Institutional facilities may not be used.Playing lessons are not permitted.The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year.The compensation is paid for by the recipient (or family) not another individual or entity.Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time.The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture, or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson.

March 27, 2013 Question How many hours of Countable Athletically Related Activities can student-athletes participate in when their sport is out of season?

Answer: In sports other than football student-athletes may participate in eight hours per week with no more than two hours of skill instruction a week. In football student-athletes may participate in eight hours of weight training, conditioning and review of film. Only two hours can be review of film. When a sport is out-of-season, each student-athlete must receive at least two days of each week from all athletic related activities.

March 20, 2013 Question How many hours of Countable Athletically-Related Activities can student-athletes participate in when their sport is "in-season"?

Answer: In-season is defined as the segment wherein the sport conducts its NCAA Championship. During the championship segment a student-athletes may participate in practice activities for a maximum of 20 hours per week with no more than four hours in any one day. Each athlete must receive at least one day off each week from all athletic-related activities.

March 12, 2013 Question Can a coach arrange housing for a prospective student-athlete?

Answer: No. A coach is prohibited from arranging for the housing of prospective student-athletes or current student-athletes. If a coach assists a prospect with housing in the vicinity of the institution, it is considered a recruiting inducement and renders the prospect ineligible for intercollegiate competition. If an individual, at the request of a coach, provides housing for a prospect, he becomes an athletic representative ("booster").

Answer: The NCAA defines sports wagering to be an agreement between different parties were something of value (cash, meal, t-shirt) is placed on the outcome of any professional, collegiate or amateur sporting event or practice. Student athletes and athletics department employees may not participate in any type of sports betting or provide information to people involved in gambling. Athletic Department employees and student-athletes are prohibited from gambling on NCAA sponsored sports.

February 26, 2013 Question Can a non-coaching staff member (athletics director, athletics advisor/counselor, etc.) speak at a banquet where prospective student-athletes are present? Answer: Yes, provided the non-coaching staff member does not have contact with the prospective student-athletes and does not make a recruiting presentation.

February 19, 2013 Question Can a current student-athlete speak at a banquet attended by prospective student-athletes?

Answer: Yes, provided the student-athlete does not make a recruiting presentation and the promotional activity has been approved by OU's Athletics Compliance office. Failure to follow the Athletics Compliance office procedure for student-athlete appearances could cost the student-athlete practice and playing time. The student-athlete appearance request form can be found on the compliance page at SoonerSports.com.

February 13, 2013 Question Can an institution announce prospective student-athletes at an athletics contest?

Answer: An institution is permitted to introduce a group that includes prospective student-athletes at an intercollegiate athletics contest, provided the group is visiting campus on a basis unrelated to recruitment and the prospective student-athletes are introduced by group name only.

February 5, 2013 Question How much publicity can an institution issue regarding prospects signing NLI?

Answer: Publicity released by an institution regarding the signing of prospect shall only happen after a prospect has signed an NLI or written offer of financial aid or paid his admission fee, however is limited to the following rules:An institution may show a video clip of prospect during its announcement of signees. An institution may conduct one formal press conference on the institutions campus for the purpose of presenting all the name of student-athlete who have signed in a sport. A student-athlete may arrange their own press conference, provided there in no arrangement or involvement whatsoever by the institution. Coaching staff may attend celebratory functions designed to celebrate the signing of student-athletes provided the institution previously released communications of the prospects signing.

January 29, 2013 Question What are the requirements for a student-athlete for fulfilling their degree program?

Answer: To be eligible for competition, a student-athlete entering his or her third year must have successfully completed 40 percent of the course requirements in that degree program. A student-athlete entering his or her fourth year must have successfully completed 60 percent of the course requirements for the degree program. Entering into the fifth year a student-athlete must have completed 80 percent of their degree program.

January 22, 2013 Question When does a student-athlete have to declare a degree of studies?

Answer: Student-athletes must declare a specific degree of studies before participating in competition that occurs prior to or immediately prior to the third year of enrollment and thereafter should make progress towards that degree. This applies to transferring student athletes who are entering their 3rd year. The two ways to declare are formal enrollment by a student-athlete into a specific bachelor's program or approval by appropriate official, outside of athletics department, of program leading to specific bachelor's degree.

January 14, 2013 Question How many credit hours does a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma have to maintain to be eligible for competition? Answer: To be eligible for practice and competition a student athlete must be enrolled as full time student (at least 12 hours) with no maximum limit. A Student Athlete must satisfactory complete complete 24 hours of class before his or her second year (third semester).

December 11, 2012 Question Is a booster allowed to have contact with a prospect or commit?

Answer: No, a booster may not have any contact (in face, on the phone, or social media etc.) with a prospect or commit. This means that a booster is not allowed to tweet at a prospect or commit, until they are considered a student athlete of the institution. A prospect is a student athlete (high school) who has started the 9th grade. In addition, a student who has not started the ninth grade but has received financial assistance or a benefit from an institution is considered a prospect. A prospect becomes a commit when one of following has occurred; a NLI or a financial aid agreement has been signed. Once this has happened a prospect is considered a commit. A commit becomes a student athlete when the individual; enrolls as a full time student and attends class, participates in practice or competition, or registers and attends summer class.

November 27, 2012 Question Can coaching staff members attend functions designed to celebrate the signing of prospects? Answer: Yes, coaching staff members may attend functions designed to celebrate the signing of prospective student athletes in the applicable sport and may discuss prospective student athletes who have signed commitments to attend the institution, including discussions with working media, provided the institution has previously released communications of the prospective student athletes' commitments to attend the institution to media outlets.

November 20, 2012 Question Can an institution hold a press conference to announce the signing of all prospective student-athletes?

Answer: Yes, an institution may conduct one formal press conference on the institution's campus for the purpose of presenting the names of all prospective student-athletes in a sport who have signed a National Letter of Intent or accepted written offers of admission and/or financial aid from the institution, with the understanding that no prospective student athletes (or their friends or relatives) may be in attendance at such an announcement.

November 13, 2012 Question Once a prospective student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent and/or an offer of financial aid can a booster provide the student-athlete with a gift or congratulatory note?

Answer: No, after signing a National Letter of Intent the signee is still considered a prospective student athlete and a gift or congratulatory note would be considered a recruiting inducement. Additionally, if a booster gives a student athlete a gift it would be considered an extra benefit.

November 6, 2012 Question When can a coach comment about a prospective student-athlete signing a National Letter of Intent?

Answer: Once a prospective student athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent (or written offer of admission and/or financial aid agreement) an institution may release publicity to media outlets at the institutions discretion. The institution may not hold more than one press conference and may not purchase or receive commercial advertising (print, media, or billboard) to identify a student athlete by name or picture.

October 16, 2012 Question Can a student-athlete receive aid from an organization other than the institution?

Answer: Yes, a student athlete may receive aid though and established and continuing program to aid students as long as the recipients choice of institution is not restricted by the donor of the aid and there is no direct connection between the donor and the student athlete's institution. This type of aid must be approved by Athletics Compliance Office and the Office of Financial Aid.

October 9, 2012 Question Who is eligible to receive athletics financial aid?

Answer: A student athlete who is eligible for competition and must be either an undergraduate with remaining eligibility on the 5 year clock or graduate student. The 5 year clock starts beginning the first semester or quarter of full time enrollment at an institution.

October 2, 2012 Question What are permissible activities for a booster?

Answer: (i) Viewing a prospect's game as long as no contact is made, (ii) if an established relationship (e.g., family friend or neighbor) already exists between the booster and prospective student-athlete, the relationship may continue as long as the relationship is NOT for recruitment purposes, or (iii) unavoidable incidental contact occurs and only greetings are exchanged. Additionally, an individual deemed to be "Representative of Athletics Interest" (e.g., booster or former student athlete) is required to notify the institution's compliance department if they are aware of violations of NCAA bylaws.

September 25, 2012 Question Is it permissible for a booster of an institution to have contact with a prospective student-athlete?

Answer: As a general rule, no. Boosters are not allowed to have contact whether it is face-to-face, phone calls, letters, faxes or social media. Boosters also may not contact a prospective student athlete's coach, principal or counselors.

September 18, 2012 Question Who is deemed to be a "Representative of Athletics Interest"?

Answer: An individual, independent agency, or organization who is known by the member institution's executive or athletics administration to: (i) have participated in or promote the institution intercollegiate athletics program, (ii) have made financial contributions to the athletics department or booster organization, (iii) be assisting or have been requested to assist in recruiting of prospective student athletes, (iv) be assisting or have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or families, or (v) have otherwise been involved in promoting the institutions athletics program.

Answer: A prospective student athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. As well as, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade but has received any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until: (i) the individual registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends class in any semester at a four year-university (excluding summer), (ii) the individual participates in practice or competition at a four-year institution before the start of any term, or (iii) the individual registers and enrolls in the summer semester prior to initial enrollment.

August 29, 2012Question Blake Boomer, a former men's basketball student-athlete at OU, now plays in the NBA. Would it be permissible for Blake to return to campus and practice with the OU basketball team?

Answer: Yes. A former student-athlete may participate in an organized practice session on an occasional basis, provided the institution does not publicize the participation of the former student-athlete at any time before the practice session.

August 21, 2012 Question Is it permissible for a coach to serve as a guest speaker at a banquet that will be attended by high school prospects?

Answer: Yes. A coach may speak at a banquet without using one of the institution's permissible contacts or evaluations, provided the coach does not make a recruiting presentation in conjunction with the appearance, the coach does not have direct contact with prospects, and the meeting/banquet does not take place during a dead period.

August 14, 2012 Question Ashley Sooner, a volleyball student-athlete at OU, is approached by a sports agent that is interested in representing her. Ashley is a sophomore and plans on competing for OU next year. Is it permissible for Ashley to sign a contract for representation, if the contract does not go into effect until after graduation? What if the agreement is verbal and not written?

Answer: A student-athlete may not agree verbally or in writing to be represented by an athlete agent in the present or in the future for the purpose of marketing the student-athlete's ability or reputation. If the student-athlete enters into such an agreement, the student-athlete is ineligible for intercollegiate competition.

August 8, 2012 Question Is it permissible for an institution to pay for a translation of an international student-athlete's transcript?

Answer: Yes. It is permissible for an institution to pay the expenses to obtain a translation of an international student-athlete's transcript because receipt of such materials is necessary to certify or evaluate the academic standing of a prospect.

May 14, 2012 Question Johnny Sooner is a prospective student-athlete that plays basketball and runs track & field. Is it possible to recruit Johnny for basketball, but provide him with a track & field scholarship?

Answer: No. A counter who practices or competes in basketball and one or more other sports (other than football) shall be counted in basketball. If the counter participates in football and basketball, he will be counted in football.

May 7, 2012 QuestionI've heard the term "head-count sports" and "equivalency sports". What is the difference?

Answer: Head-count and equivalency are the two types of scholarships given to student-athletes. A head-count sport (e.g., Football, Basketball) uses one full scholarship for every student-athlete that athletic aid is given. An equivalency sport (e.g. Rowing) is able to allocate a percentage of aid to student-athletes.

May 1, 2012 QuestionIs it permissible to contribute funds to finance a scholarship for a particular sport and/or student-athlete?

Answer: An individual may contribute funds to finance a scholarship or grant-in-aid for a particular sport, but the decision as to how such funds are to be allocated in the sport shall rest exclusively with the institution. It is not permissible for a donor to contribute funds to finance a scholarship or grant-in-aid for a particular student-athlete.

February 20, 2012 QuestionSooner booster Bob Switzer is the owner of a local restaurant. OU student-athletes are frequent patrons at the restaurant. Is it permissible for Bob to advertise that student-athletes eat at his restaurant or to give the student-athletes a discount?

Answer: No and no. A student-athlete's name or picture cannot be used to promote or advertise a commercial establishment. A discount is also an impermissible extra benefit.

February 13, 2012 QuestionCan a school do anything to personalize a prospect's visit to campus?

Answer: An institution may not arrange miscellaneous, personalized recruiting aids (e.g. personalized jerseys, personalized audio-video scoreboard presentations) and we may not permit a prospect to participate in any game-day simulations (e.g., running through tunnel onto Owen field with the team prior to the game) during an official visit. Personalized recruiting aids include any decorative items and special decorations at any location the prospect will visit (e.g., hotel room, locker room, coach's office, team meeting rooms or competition facility) even if the decoration do not include the prospects name or picture.

Answer: An official visit to an institution by a prospective student-athlete is a visit financed in whole or in part by the institution. A parent may accompany the PSA but only receive meals during the visit. A PSA is limit to one official visit to an institution and five total. An unofficial visit to an institution is a visit made at the prospective student-athlete's own expense except for complimentary admissions to a home athletic competition.

January 30, 2012 QuestionIs it permissible for a student-athlete to receive a special discount or service from a booster?

Answer: No, this would be considered an extra benefit. A student-athlete may not receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an institutional employee or a representative of its athletics interests.

January 23, 2012 QuestionA student-athlete cannot receive an extra benefit from an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests. Who is classified as a representative of the institution's athletics interests?

Answer: An individual or organization that has promoted the institution's intercollegiate athletics program (e.g., traditional booster), made financial contributions (to the athletics department or booster organization), assisted in recruitment of prospective student-athletes, or is otherwise involved in promotion of the athletics program.

January 16, 2012 QuestionA student-athlete is not permitted to receive any extra benefit. What does the NCAA classify as an extra benefit?

Answer: The term "extra benefit" refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide the student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

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